skimmer exposion

[sowellj]

I am currently running a SWC250a on 180 gallon SPS tank. About ten days ago, I switched skimmer pump as I was having some issues with the old one. The new pump went on, and all was well with the world. However, this past Saturday, the skimmer started going crazy, not a gradual transition either. It went from performing fine to eruption. It does not appear to have improved any. The skimmer itself appears to be working fine, with no obvious problems, suggesting that something was introduced into the water column. Below I have listed all the possibilities I can think of. Any help/would be greatly appreciated.

1) I run a zeovit tank and switched out the stones. This has never caused a problem before.

2) The sandbed got stirred up ... but not very much. I can see this causing the skimmer to overflow for a bit, but it seems as if it should have settled down after three days.

3) added new carbon ... never caused issues in the past

4) glued some frags ... can sometimes temporarily cause skimmer issues, but never has been issue before.

5) We painted an adjacent room on Saturday (latex). Maybe there is some offgassing that is the culprit. (this is where I am leaning at the moment).

No medications or anything other than food has been introduced to the tank. thanks in advance for the ideas.

 

[Jeremy R.]

Just switching a pump out will cause a slight break in period which can cause your skimmer to overreact if the water level is set to high. I take it you upgraded to a pump with a higher airpull and possibly even a higher water intake. Paint fumes can also effect skimmers and in some cases craze acrylic.

 

[sowellj]

No it was the same pump (askoll 1500). The old one started malfunctioning. When I put the new one on, I really didnt' have to adjust the skimmer much at all. It behaved normally for a week or so, then all of a sudden I started getting the skimmate volcano. Thanks for the ideas though.

 

[Captain Nemo]

No idea what the problem is. I had the same problem but mine happened with WC's. I have been told that some how the oil's from your skin can help to settle it down, so I worked in the tank a little bit and it finally stopped a couple hours later. best guess on the cause though.......

 

[Troylee]

something on your hands could of caused it.... if this is just a single occurance don't sweat it... if it's a weekly thing i would look into more....

 

[sowellj]

I guess my concern is that it has been going on for close to four days now. I built a makeshift platform to raise the skimmer and also disconnected the outflow pipe ... this is the only way I can run the skimmer without it overflowing. Whenever I put the skimmer back on the bottom of the sump (its usual location), it immediately floods.

 

[luke33]

Could be the glue (what did you use?) or the paint, or the sandbed. I'd say it was the paint or glue though. You need to run the skimmer like your doing and dump out the clear water you get in the collection cup. If its pulling out clear water just don't dump it back in the sump. What water depth are you running it in?

 

[sowellj]

Normally, I would say it is in around ten inches of water. Now ... with the makeshift platform, maybe five inches or so. I cannot recall the glue ... but it is the epoxy that bulk reef supply sells. I have not had any issues with it in the past.

 

[sowellj]

Well, skimmer is still going nuts after airing the house out well. Guess I will try the ctr alt delete restart of reefkeeping ... water changes.

 

[Nicks387]

I am almost certain its the epoxy. I use various ones without issue but I have my skimmer explode like that when I used one that was coraline colored. I do not remember what brand it was. Now I only use the gray one from two little fishes or aquamend and have no problem. If you used just a little it may not have any reaction but a half a stick or more of a certain epoxy and this happens.

 

[luke33]

The 250a needs to be ran in 6-8" water level, but if its foaming uncontrollably i would say something in the water. Only coral glue i've had really affect my skimmer is aquamend or anything like that. It'll sometimes put your skimmer out for weeks. And the more powerful the skimmer the harder it is to get back to nomal.

 

[sowellj]

Looks like it may be calming down a bit. I can now reattach the outflow pipe w/out it overflowing. Nicks .. I did put a frag or two in the day before it started that had a different type of epoxy from what I normally use. Perhaps that is the cause. Seems like if that was it though it would have started overflowing sooner, as opposed to 24 hour lag. Who knows. All corals look fine so that is good.